Adventure Calendarhttps://adventurecalendar.co.za
Life is an Adventure - Enjoy the RideMon, 12 Nov 2018 07:52:47 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.6Overseas travellinghttps://adventurecalendar.co.za/overseas-travelling
https://adventurecalendar.co.za/overseas-travelling#respondMon, 12 Nov 2018 07:52:47 +0000https://adventurecalendar.co.za/?p=31Among the most delightful pleasures in life, traveling fights the battle for the first position on the list. From the moment we arrive at the airport it’s hard to think of any other experience that can bring so much excitement to ourselves as is it to travel.

Contemplating the Statue of Liberty for the first time, watching the Eiffel Tower shine in a cold night of December or admiring the Angkor Wat temples in Cambodia, are among the most amazing moments that you can add to your memories. Tasting the food from a place on the other side of the world, or dancing to the rhythm of the music that we had never heard of allows us to realize that the world can be a way more beautiful place, but only if we are willing to step out of our comfort zone into an adventure.

Unfortunately, every coin has another face and traveling it’s not the exception. Despite being such a striking and colourful idea, it requires a precise planning to align our desires with our budget and time requirements. From the moment we choose to make our bags, crucial decisions need to be made: when do I leave? In which airline do I go? What season? And the most important question: where do I want to go? Choosing the right destiny is, without a doubt, the core and centre of our trip.

If we want to live an amazing experience, we need an amazing destination

The main challenge doesn’t lie then in the search for a great destiny, but in choosing one among the endless possibilities that the world offers. And like selecting a movie from Netflix, this can be a colossal task. To decide between the view of New York City from the roof of the Empire State and the sound of the falling water in the Niagara Falls put things in perspective. At the end of the day, there is only one thing that matters: who we are.

Our destination must excite us. If you are an adventurous person, contemplating the roof repair of the Sistine Chapel maybe it’s not your thing, although for an art history teacher it can be a life-changing experience. Seeing the world isn’t just a matter of having a good time, but it’s more about putting in perspective our place here and making our lives an unforgettable journey.

Safety Tips for Female Travelers

When women are travelling alone they are at a higher risk than when they are accompanied by their male companions or travelling in a group. This article will give you some tips that can help keep you safe during your travels.

Stay confident

You should always ensure that you look confident even when you know that you are lost. Never let other people know that you are nervous as they are more likely to take advantage.

Dress down

When you wear very short skirts and dresses you will attract the attention of men and not all of them are gentlemen. When choosing an outfit to go out, be it day or night, you should ensure you consider you environment and the norms of the people there. Choosing the right outfit will help you blend into your surroundings and not pull too much attention to you.

Don’t over drink

It is fun to go out for drinks and bond with other travellers and locals but never overdo it. When you are intoxicated you are more vulnerable to danger especially if you are travelling alone. You should know your drink limit and don’t exceed your limit especially when in a foreign place. Most importantly never accept drinks from strangers because you can never know what is in it.

Get fit

It is important to ensure that you start a workout regimen before you travel. Exercising will not only improver your travel experience as you will be able in more activities without getting tired, but you will also be able to ward of an attack in case it happens. It is also important to continue with your exercises even when you are on your travels.

Avert attention

Avoid engaging in any action that will draw attention to you. Do not wear expensive jewellery or flashing too much cash when you are out and about. Try to maintain a low profile throughout your trip to reduce your risk factor.

Wear a fake ring

When you get to some countries you realize that the men are quite aggressive and forward. As a female who is travelling alone you are at a higher risk of getting harassed. You can wear a fake wedding ring when you are out in town to discourage anyone who might want to hit on you as they will assume that you are probably there with your spouse.

Stay alert

You should always be aware of your surroundings no matter where you are. This will help you sense when there is danger and know how to avert them. You should always keep your belongings close to you and keep your valuables such as camera, phone and money hidden. As a single female traveller, you will always be targeted.

Group walks

When going out at night it is important to join a group of other visitors from your hotel. Never walk on the streets alone as your probability of getting attacked will be high.

Conclusion

Safety especially on travels is critical for everyone, but more so for women who are generally vulnerable and can make for easy targets. These tips should give you a head start for your safety as you travel the world to different locations and as you interact with varied cultures and people.

Scams to Avoid while Travelling

The taxi overcharges

It starts right from the airport. The driver may give an excuse that the meter is defective or have one that is faster. Know the cost of travels so that you can use it as reference.

The shell games

This may involve a street card game or hiding a ball in a cup and someone guessing where it is and winning money. The temptation to bet more money may result in huge losses.

The wrong change

Some countries’ currencies look the same. Given a bunch of similar colors it’s easy to mistake the currencies. Make sure you count your change immediately.

“Come in for tea and help me write a letter!”

Someone will entice you into their business premise then pressurize you to buy their goods since they have given you tea. Do not follow people into their premises.

Motorbike scam

Owners of rented bikes may demand payment for alleged damage on the bike. Capture using a photo the state of the bike before you start using it. Keep the bike safe.

The flirtatious woman

Such women will make you pay exaggerated bills or even orchestrate your drugging and robbing. Do not entertain such women.

Your attraction is closed for lunch

Someone will tell you that your preferred attraction is closed then directs you to an alternative place where you’ll be forced to pay highly. Ensure you know how the attraction operates.

The “found” ring

Someone will pick a ring on the ground, ask if it’s yours and when you say no they’ll try to sell it to you claiming it is gold. When you buy it and try to sell it back home you realise it’s fake. Do not buy the ring if the deal seems too good.

The drug deal gone bad

Someone may offer to sell you drugs; a cop appears and asks for a bribe to let you go. Don’t buy drugs in foreign lands.

The fake petition

Someone will come to you with a petition to sign, in the process they ask for cash. They may pick pocket you. Ignore anyone coming to you to sign a petition.

The switcheroo

You purchase a designer item at a low price but just before it’s packed a switching is secretly done. Watch out always what’s being sold to you while avoiding deals that look too good.

Your accommodation is “closed”

The taxi driver may give this information or opt to take a longer route to your destination. Insist on going to your original destination; use your phone’s GPS/Google maps to identify the shortest routes.

Free bracelets/rosemary/anything they can put on you

Money will be demanded for the item and a scene created when you refuse so that you just pay to avoid embarrassment. Reject the items firmly and politely.

The spill on your clothes

Someone intentionally spills something on you, and then begins to clean it off apologetically aiming at pick pocketing you. Avoid very close contact with people. Insist on cleaning up yourself.

Conclusion

These are some of the most common scams targeted at visitors, tourists or travellers. Do not fall victim to these scams on your travels; always be on the lookout for people who are out to take advantage of you.

]]>https://adventurecalendar.co.za/overseas-travelling/feed0Travel Information and Tipshttps://adventurecalendar.co.za/travel-information-and-tips
https://adventurecalendar.co.za/travel-information-and-tips#respondMon, 12 Nov 2018 07:46:42 +0000https://adventurecalendar.co.za/?p=29To travel in Southern Africa, would be no different to any other country in the world. It has become a safe region to visit, provided that one follows some basic common sense precautions, the same precautions you would take when visiting any other country in the world.

APPROPRIATE AND SIMILAR FOR ALL SOUTHERN AFRICAN COUNTRIES

CURRENCY:

The South African currency is Rand (ZAR), which is divided into 100 cents. Refer to the currency converter on our websites to find out the appropriate exchange rate of the South African Rand (ZAR). The South African Rand (ZAR) is accepted in Namibia, Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana and Lesotho. The US $ is best for Zimbabwe and Zambia or use the actual currency of each country:

Namibia – Namibian $

Mozambique – Meticais

Swaziland – Lilangeni

Botswana – Pula

Lesotho – Loti

Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe $

Zambia – Kwacha

MONEY:

Traveller’s cheques are always the safest to use, but then make sure they are in South African Rand.

Do not counter sign all your traveller’s cheques.

I would recommend credit cards, debit cards or normal bank cards, as ATM (Automated Teller Machines) are readily available throughout the region. Use the same precautions you would use at home when using these cards. Most importantly – do not let anyone offer you any assistance.

It would be ideal to always have about R750.00 in cash per person available whilst travelling.

If available – always make use of your room or hotel safe, to store the bulk of your money.

Write down your traveller’s cheque and credit card numbers as well as the customer service number of issuing bank (s) , keep in an envelope and in a safe place.

Make use of foreign exchange outlets and banks to obtain the best exchange rates.

Banks open Monday to Friday from 09h00 – 15h30, Saturday from 08h30 – 11h00 and foreign exchange outlets are available in all the airports and big centres.

TAX:

Airport taxes are usually included when purchasing your air ticket – check on this.

We have a 14 % VAT (Value Added Tax) system on most goods purchased in SA, which may be claimed back before your departure. No claims are possible for services rendered.

VAT claim applications are obtainable at the “VAT Claim Office” at all international airports, harbours, major border posts or at the various “VAT Claim Offices” in major centres. E.g. Cape Town, Johannesburg – inquire about where to find these offices at your accommodation establishment, local tourism information centre or guide.

VAT refunds are paid out at the tax office at all international airports, harbours and major border posts, if you produce and / or your claim complies with the following:

If the total VAT paid on all items purchased, exceeds R250.00.

Produce your travel ticket, example – air ticket.

Produce your passport.

Supply VAT invoices for all goods purchased.

Hand in your completed VAT claim application.

You might be asked to produce the goods that you have purchased, for example – very expensive jewellery.

]]>https://adventurecalendar.co.za/travel-information-and-tips/feed0Travel Documentshttps://adventurecalendar.co.za/travel-documents
https://adventurecalendar.co.za/travel-documents#respondMon, 12 Nov 2018 07:43:45 +0000https://adventurecalendar.co.za/?p=27One needs a valid passport before travelling to any Southern African country, it must have at least 2 x blank pages and must be valid for at least 6 months.

Visas can be obtained on entrance to Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

No Visas are required for South Africa, Swaziland, Namibia, Lesotho or Botswana when travelling from the US, European Union or Britain.

If possible, travel with certified photocopies of your valuable documents, keep separate from originals and in a safe place.

Report lost passports and/or visas as soon as possible to your countries` embassy or consulate and the SA police.

HEALTH

Vaccinations are not compulsory.

South Africa and surrounding countries are all relatively hygienic. Medical assistance is of a very high standard, if you have travel insurance.

If you are on medication make sure you carry enough for the duration of your tour.

Malaria – It is present during Southern Africa’s summers (September to April), in the following areas: – in and around the Kruger National Park, Swaziland, the northern parts of KwaZulu Natal, Mozambique, Vic Falls, Chobe, the Okavango Delta and northern Namibia – Etosha. It would be advisable to take a course of anti-malaria tablets, please discuss this with your doctor. We find that most visitors to Southern Africa are over concerned about malaria, this should not be the case. Millions of people live and work in malaria areas without taking anti-malaria medication and they never have problems, especially when they following these basic precautions:

Do not leave your room lights on at night, as this will attract insects unnecessarily.

If available and comfortable, keep your room AC or fan on at night.

Never leave your room doors or windows open, unless they have a gauze screen for protection – you never know what else could crawl in.

If available – make use of the mosquito nets in your room.

Important: If you are not feeling well and you have similar symptoms to the flue – headache or fever, within 7 – 21 days of visiting a malaria area, consult a Doctor and mention to him / her that you have been in a malaria area.

]]>https://adventurecalendar.co.za/travel-documents/feed0Adventure Activities around Cape Townhttps://adventurecalendar.co.za/adventure-activities-around-cape-town
https://adventurecalendar.co.za/adventure-activities-around-cape-town#respondWed, 24 Oct 2018 08:40:21 +0000https://adventurecalendar.co.za/?p=25The Western Cape and Cape Town lends itself to an extensive number of adventure options or sport activities. If you are in search of excitement and adventure the Cape Town is the place to be…

Abseiling – Abseiling Clubs and Abseiling Associations in the Cape Town

The Cape has mountains for Africa! How about a 100m abseil against Table Mountain? If overhanging cliffs and descending rocky mountain faces gets your blood pumping, abseiling has become a popular tourist activity and many adventure sport companies offer this as a extreme sport. Table Mountain, Ceres Mountains, Bushman’s Kloof, Chapman’s Peak and the Helderberg Mountain range all offer abseiling sites.

There are an amazing number of hiking trails throughout the Cape Town. Pick up a copy of walking trails and routes of the Cape Town at a local book store and set out on a hiking trail or climbing adventure in some of the most beautiful natural settings in the world.

You can take a horse trail along our sun bleached beaches or take a trail that leads you through the Knysna forest, the Wilderness Lakes district or the open spaces of the Karoo.

Several game reserves protect our flora and fauna in the Cape Town. You can find the Big Five at the Garden Route Game Lodge or see wildlife at Shamwari Game Reserve, or head out to the Kagga Kamma or the Karoo National Park near Beaufort West to see an abundance of South African game. The West Coast offers an abundance of bird life. Some of air charter companies offer self-fly safaris or fly-inn safaris to some of the Game Reserves in Africa.

Recreational Flying and Flying Clubs of the Cape Town

See Cape Town and the region from the air and you’ll know why we boast about our region. Many offer qualified flight training schools (See more here!) where aspiring aviators can get their wings. Flying clubs and airfields include Stellenbosch, Fisantekraal, Vredenburg, Citrusdal, Swellendam, Worchester (gliding or soaring) George, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn, Beaufort West and Plettenberg Bay.

Rafting and Paddling Clubs of the Cape Town

Cape Town hosts the largest number of river operators in South Africa. You can test your skills in the rapids of the Doring river (Cederberg) with a mini-Grand Canyon or the well-known Breede River with some calmer waters below Swellendam.

Sea & River Kayaking

Take a kayak out on the Langebaan lagoon from Mykonos to Langembaan village with the best bird watching in the area. Or set out over the swell and currents to Churchhaven on the other side of the lagoon. Enjoy safe and exhilarating kayaking in this region that has a lovely Mediterranean climate. Best time for Kayaking on the West coast is August. Or try the Boulders Route from Simon’s Town to Miller’s Point. The Garden Route offers a route from Beacon Isle at Plettenberg Bay to the Robberg Peninsula.

Soaring & Gliding

Cape Town offers several superb spots for all weather conditions. Try the dunes at Wilderness or parra-gliding from Lion’s Head at sunset. Or go launch at Bonnidale Farm near Mossel Bay. Watch the dolphins play while para-sailing along the beaches at Wilderness

Bridge or Bungi Jumping

Get the ultimate adrenaline rush and go Bungee jumping at the Gouritz bridge. If swinging from bridges does it for you don’t miss this! The Gouritz River Bridge is between Albertina and Mossel Bay (N2 Route)

Cycling and Mountain Biking

Cape Town and the Cape Town offer some excellent mountain biking trails. The choice is yours a leisurely ride or a testing trail to see if you have what it takes to complete. If you would like to take a wine tour, why not do it by cycling through the wine lands with a guide. So lug your camera, biltong and bike and get out there.

Caving

Go Caving in the Cango Caves offers and unforgettable experience well worth a visit if you are heading out to the Oudtshoorn area.

Sand Boarding Dune Riding

Take to the dunes on a sand board just one hour’s drive from Cape Town at Atlantis or head out to the playgrounds of Betty’s Bay! If you’re a novice get to know the sport by a qualified instructor at Hout Bay or get to know snowboarding in the Matroosberg.

Skydiving

Citrusdal offers skydiving for the enthusiast and novice. Training can be provided by qualified instructors.

Scuba Diving & Snorkeling

Scuba diving is a popular sport in Cape Town, Why? Where in the world can you dive in two of the world’s oceans in one day? Here, The Cape Peninsula offers many diving sights for both reef and wreck diving adventures. This you can enjoy with a qualified Dive Master as your guide.

Surfing and Windsurfing

The Cape has a multi-directional seaboard and is surfers paradise, the Western and Eastern coastlines offer are literally covered in fantastic surf spots. Some not as well-known as others, but when the surfs up, Capetonians that can manage to stay on top of a surfboard or bodyboard are out there in the surf. Spots such as Llundudno, Noordhoek, The Pipe (Strand), Elandsbaai, Glen Beach, Kogel Bay, Sunset Beach, Vic Bay, Buffels Bay, Plettenberg Bay, Jeffery’s Bay are all well visited surfing spots of the Cape Town.

Fishing & Angling in the Cape Town

The Atlantic Ocean and False Bay offer some of the best angling and deep sea fishing grounds in Southern Africa. Gordon’s Bay, Kalk Bay, Hout Bay and Simonstown (tunny boat, yacht and Naval harbour) offer entry points into these playgrounds. False Bay typically has warmer water than that on the Atlantic Coast. Snoek season is between June and July and this is when Cape Town is abuzz with anglers. Permits can be bought for angling in some protected areas during season.

While you look ahead to the list of adventures and experiences in front of you, sometimes a thought of home creeps in, and for a fleeting moment, you start to look back. It’s not quite acute homesickness, but more along the lines of a ‘blah’ mood – one that leaves you distracted and not living in the moment and soaking in your foreign environment.

This not-quite-homesick feeling happens to most of us when we’ve been away long enough. Luckily, there is a cure (a few of them) to allay this feeling so you can dive right back into your travels with full focus.

Eat your way out
We’ve all craved a slice of home while on our travels. For many of us, familiar food is an excellent way to open the door and evict those homesick-like feelings.

I (ahem) visited a McDonalds in Varanasi, India because a break from Indian food sounded like a good idea at that moment. While I regularly bemoan the globalization of fast food, I have to say it was nice being in a familiar restaurant. Like penicillin, I’m okay with avoiding these chains – that is, until I find I really need one.

While in Cuzco I’ve ordered chicken, mashed potatoes and something resembling gravy from an Irish pub. It was American Thanksgiving and I wanted a meal that felt like home.

So go ahead and indulge at a homespun restaurant. Just don’t eat every meal there or you may find you’ve become sure homesick and other tactics may be required.

Create a holiday. Invite others
It does not even have to fall on the date of the actual holiday, but crafting a favourite meal and sharing it is a great way to bring your traditions with you.

This works quite well when living in a hostel for any length of time as you’ll likely have plenty of eager mouths to feed – some might even pitch in to help cook. Post a date and time on the message board inviting everyone to join in on the celebration. If you’ve made some contacts in your host city and are not in a hostel, see if you can borrow their kitchen while offering to cook for them. Preparing for the meal can allow you reasons to contact home and ask for suggestions or recipes, giving you a way to be connected to a holiday while getting excited about plans you’re making while travelling.

Don’t cook? Find a way to source the ingredients from local establishments or markets or, armed with the recipes, see if you can convince someone you know in the country to help you prepare your meal. You’ll find that moms and dads the world over tend to like helping a younger generation in nurturing ways. Find a good one and divulge your plan.

Digital embrace
I once called my dad from the middle of the Himalayas. I found a great deal on long distance that afforded me time to shoot the breeze with him as if I was back home in the USA. I used to look down on those who would make calls from such ‘remote’ places because they weren’t really immersing themselves like I thought they should. It turns out, I was wrong.

The rules we make for travel are our own. Don’t let others dictate what is acceptable and what is not, especially if it helps you feel empowered to travel longer and learn more about the world. Call or video-chat home as often as you like. A call to friends or family can often help give that little boost you need to keep your spirits up.

Start to plan your next trip
One thing I learned about my wife during our first international trip together is that she likes to already have her next trip planned before getting home from the one she’s on. I thought doing this would take us out of being in the moment of where we were, but I found that was not a bad thing. Hear me out.

Planning our next trip allowed for a pause in our current travels. It took us out of the moment, but that break was restorative. Sensory overload is common when visiting a new location and especially true if your itinerary is nonstop. We were mentally detaching from our immediate location in order to come back to it more fully and with renewed appreciation.

Ask for photos
Whether it’s just another day at work or a special occasion, ask your group of friends and family back home to send you a picture of what they are doing right then and there. You’ll get a range of photos from cubicle walls or a TV set in a living room (or who knows?). It’ll show you a glimpse into their world that their pictures on Facebook do not – that life goes on and often in mundane ways. It’s not a constant party you are missing out on. If nothing else, the images will hopefully transport you mentally out of your current location and give you the break you need and help to put things into perspective.

Treating the first symptoms when we are feeling ill is the best way to stave off a full-on cold. Likewise, it’s easier to stave off full-on homesickness if you take some action when you spot the first signs.

A slice of home while on the road is often the perfect remedy to help keep you travelling longer and happier. Go ahead, call your friends, celebrate a holiday your own way, or go to a Tim Hortons in New York City (yes, Canadians get homesick, too). It’s not the end of your travels and it’s going to be just fine. Enjoy!